Free Elite Ambition by Jessica Burkhart Page A

flecks of a half dozen shades of green that I’d never noticed before. His light brown hair looked soft and a little windswept. I wanted to reach out and touch his tan face.
    â€œThat’s really sweet of you,” I said. “But you have to understand where I’m coming from. I lived though the worst of it already—the whispers and stares and people gossiping about my party.”
    â€œIt never should have happened,” Jacob said, his jaw clenching. “I made the worst mistake by letting you take the blame. And as for the stares and whispers—like I said—I only care that you’re with me. I can handle everything else.”
    I stared at him—wanting to kiss him but knowing better. We couldn’t risk it. But once he told Callie, we were finally free to try.
    â€œIt’s so weird,” I said, trying to breathe evenly. “I want Friday to come and I don’t. I hate the idea of stirring up talk about my party. But I’m also hopeful, whether or not it’s even a possibility, that maybe Callie and I can work on our friendship again.”
    Jacob nodded, listening.
    â€œI don’t think we’ll ever be friends again,” I continued. “I mean, how can she really be friends with someone she thinks she can’t trust? I
did
lie to her about what really happened, to protect her—and you. She’s not just going to magically forgive me for that.”
    â€œShe might not,” Jacob said, touching my arm. “Butwhatever happens—she needed to know the truth and you deserve to have your name cleared. It’s not fair to you and it never was.” He stared down at the cobblestones beneath us, then looked back at me. “I should have done something about it a long time ago. I’m sorry, Sasha. I don’t know if I can apologize enough.”
    â€œStop.” I reached over and squeezed his hand for a second before letting him go. “We’ve been over this. You did what I asked. It’s what I wanted. I should be the one apologizing to you—you need to do what feels right.”
    â€œHow about we both agree to stop apologizing to each other, okay?” Jacob asked. His smile was soft.
    â€œOkay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I can do that.”
    We stared at each other for minutes—neither of us saying a word. Silence was comfortable for both of us. Our bodies were inches apart, and it was almost impossible not to hug him.
    Or kiss him.
    More than anything—that’s what I wanted to do.
    â€œI better go,” I said, reluctant. My voice broke the silence. I hated saying it, but it had to happen. No one could see us here.
    A look—maybe sadness—crossed Jacob’s face. Butit was replaced with understanding. “I get it,” he said. “We’re doing it right this time.”
    But the way he looked at me—I just knew. He wanted to kiss me. And, more than anything, I wanted to kiss him back.
    â€œRight,” I said. I took a tiny step back. The longer I was closer to him—the harder it was to step away.
    â€œText you later,” Jacob said, squeezing my arm then letting me go. I half wished he’d kept his hand on my arm and forced me to stay. But we both knew better.
    â€œOkay. Bye.” I tore my eyes away from his and left the archway, leaving him standing there.
    Hours later, I sat down to dinner in the caf. My brain was still stuck on what had gone on earlier with Jacob. The scene kept replaying in front of my eyes—the light breeze that had blown the scent of fresh cut grass through the archway, the warmth that seemed to radiate from Jacob’s body and—what I couldn’t forget no matter how hard I tried—the way he’d looked when I’d approached him. I couldn’t help but worry about the timing of everything. Jacob was telling Callie the truth before the schooling show, which was important to her. I blinked and